On January 23-24, the Belgian-Ukrainian Defense Industry Seminar was held. The event was organized by the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Defense and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Ukraine.

The seminar was attended by representatives of 33 Ukrainian and 8 Belgian companies, the Belgian Security and Defense Industry Association (BSDI), and representatives of the governmental defense and security sectors of both countries. The seminar was organized to enable Ukrainian and Belgian defense entrepreneurs to establish contacts and agree on cooperation, as well as to strengthen the strategic partnership between the Belgian and Ukrainian defense industries.

“On behalf of the Belgian Defense Industry, we are honored to contribute to the Belgian Government policy of support to Ukraine. This contribution will take the form of industrial & technological partnership with Ukrainian Defense companies, in order to expand together the short term and long term Ukrainian industrial capabilities”, said Stephane Burton, Chairman of the Belgian Security & Defense Industry.

"Today's workshop resulted in the development of specific potential projects in the defense sector between Belgian and Ukrainian companies. To effectively support the development of these areas, we agreed with the Belgian side to ensure regular coordination and discussion of the results of joint work in the defense sector," - said Serhiy Boyev, Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine.

In particular, the defense ministries of Ukraine and Belgium signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

“Today, we are proud to announce that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Belgian Minister of Defense, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian Ministry of Strategic Companies. This promotes the agility and the high technological capabilities of the Belgian Industry, to partner with the Ukrainian industries on the long term, in order to meet the Ukrainian government strategy”, stated Lt-General Frederic Goetynck, National Armament Director of Belgium.

Six documents were also signed between Belgian and Ukrainian companies to launch cooperation.

"Productive dialogue with Belgian colleagues is extremely important, as we need to strengthen cooperation with existing international partners and establish new contacts. Today, UOP's task is not only to meet the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in weapons and military equipment to bring the Victory closer, but also to understand global trends, master the production of new types of products, study and implement best practices and technologies. We have to do this to gradually integrate into the defense industry of NATO countries and build a modern Ukrainian arms company and the Arsenal of the Free World, which will eventually become the domestic defense industry," said Herman Smetanin, Director General of UOP.